Protected electrode igniter



Jan. 9, 1923,

W. 0. HEATH. PROTECTED ELECTRODE IGNITER.

FILED JAN. 14. I921.

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Patented Jinn. i923.

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WILLIAM G. 0F BELOIT, VJISQCONSIN, ASEIGNOE T0 FAIRBANKS, MORSE dz CCL,OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A GORI PQRATION OF ILLINOIS.

PROTECTED ELECTRODE IGNITEB.

Application filed January 14, 1921. Serial No. 437,340.

f0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that L Vi iLLmM C. IILBLTH. a citizen oi? the United States.residing at Beloit, in the county of Rock and State of W onsin, haveinvented a certain new and u 1 Improvement i. Protected Electrodelgnitcrs, oi? which the following is a specitication.

This invention relates to the class of igniters used in internalcombustion engines employing oil as fuel in which one of two electrodeslocated in the firing compartment of the engine is moved into and out ofcontact with the other to produce a low tension spark for firing thefuel charge.

The object is to provide a mechanism of this class with protection forthe contact points of the electrodes as they operate thereby greatlyincreasing the eiticiency of the firing mechanism by preventing thedissipation of heat at the contact points and by excluding, in largedegree, direct contact of fuel oil. with the contact points.

The invention consistsin means for carrying out the foregoing and otherobjects which can be easily and cheaply made, which is satisfactory inoperation and not readily liable to get out of order. Mfore particularlythe invention consists in detail of construction more fully set forth inthe specification and claims.

Referring to the drawings in which similar numerals represent the sameparts thruout the several views,

Figure 1 is an end view of the exterior of an igniter plug carryingmechanism illustrating this invention in its preferred form as appliedto an engine cylinder, certain wall portions being broken away to showthe interior construction.

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 2-2 oi": Figure 1.

- Figure 3 is an end detail. view on the line 3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a modified construction of essential parts of Figure 2.

For the purposes of illustration the essential parts of mechanism. ofthis invention are shown as applied to the conventional form oi anigniter body block 10 detachably inserted in the end wall 12 of anengine cylinder 14, the outer end. of this block being covered by theusual removable cover 16, and the whole secured in place by lag screw17. In Preferred form of structure shown. in

the

Figure 2 the block 10 has projecting from its inner or engineend arelatively small cylindrical cup or chamber 18 having its end 20 openinto the engine cylinder so that fumes oi. combustible material to befired can enter the cup. Extending thru the block 10 and cup 18 is'astationary electrode 22 of conventional construction insulated from theriaterial'oi the block 10 by a sleeve 24 and a nut 26. The outer end ofthis electrode is equipped with the usual electric wire connections 28leading to a distant magneto (not shown.) The inner end ofthis electrode22 extends partway into the interior of cup 18, being insulated from itswalls by an air space as clearly shown. in Figure 2, and carries astationary firing contact 30.

Journaled in block 10 at a suitable distance from. the electrode 22 is arotatable electrode 22 not here insulatedttrom the block 10. The

outer end of this electrode 32 carries a crank arm 34 rocked in anysuitable manner as by reciprocating rod 36 driven by the engine andresisted. by the spring 37.

The inner end of electrode 32 carries inside the engine cylinder a leverarm 38 having at its outer end a curved portion 40 terminating in thecontact point 42, lying in the arc of a circle drawn about the center ofrotation of the electrode member 32 so that the electrode 32 is rockedthese two parts reciprocate thru a perforation 44 in the top of member18 to cause contact 42 to engage contact 30 on electrode 22. Thisperforation made only large enough to permit ready m ovement asdescribed.

The alternative form of construction shown in Figure l'difiers from thatof Figure 2 only in that the tubular cup i6,-corresponding in alloperative functions to the cup 18 is carried by the insulating sleeve 48corresponding to sleeve 2%. llhe construction and mounting of protectingcups 18 and 46 is wholly immaterial. The point is that the cup providedprotects the firing contacts 30 and 42. i

in the operation of the device fuel oil is thrown into the combustionspace of the engine by mechanism not entering into this invention and.therefore not shown in detail and fumes from it pass thru openings 20and 44-. into proximity with the contacts 4:0-42 and are fired by thespark produced in the ordinary manner as the contacts separate in movingfr m the; position of Figu e l to that of Figure lihen firing takesplace intense heat produced within the chamber 1801' etc .il'ninediatelyadjacent to the contact members -lll lz; The presence of the protectingcase serves the purpose of retain-.

ing a large quantity of this heat immediately adjacent to the contacts5O' l2 during the time between successive firingstherefore it enablesthe firing to take place more surely and etliciently than is the casewhere thecontacts are allowed to be cooled in any manner whatever as forinstance by being struck by a spray of cold oil during the interveningtime. i

The presence of the protecting case 18 01 46 also serves the purpose ofkeeping the oil spray norm-ally supplied to the engine cylinder oil?from the contact points 80-42 thereby reducing it not preventing theusual forming of carbon onthese points. Stated inanother way,theadvantage is' that there will be less formation ofcarbon around thespark points under conditions where this carbon is otherwise likely toform. The action of the protection sleeve tube seems to be in keepingthe liquid particles of fuel which may form carbon, away from the pointsand also to produce a somewhat higher heat ejtiect around the points,resulting in the burning oi of such carbon as may otherwise form.

. Having thus describedmy invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is a 1-. In an igniter mechanism two electrodescarryingengageable contact points, rotatable means moving one electrodeto engage and separate said contact points, and tubular enclosing memberentered by one electrode at its end and by the other electrode at itsside substantially enclosing the points as they engage each other. 2. Inmechanism of the class described, a base plug for insertion in anopening in an engine combustion chamber wall, a cup protruding from theinside of the plug, an electrode thru the plug entering the bottom ofsaid cup, another electrode rotatable in the plug parallel with thefirst electrode, and an arm on the inner end' oi the rotatableelectrode, movable between two positions in one of which it enters .anopening in the cup and contacts the electrode therein and in the otherof which it does not so contact.

3. i mechanism of the class described, a base plug for insertion in anopening in an engine combustion chamber wall, a cup protruding from theinside of the plug, an electrode thru the plug entering the bottom ofsaid cup, another electrode rotatable in the plug parallel with thefirst electrode, and an arm on the inner end of the rotatable electrodemovable between two positions in one of which it enters an opening inthe cup and contacts the electrode therein and in the other of which itdoes not so Contact, and means for rotatingthe second electrode.

l. In mechanism 01 the class described a base plug for insertion in anopening in an engine combustion chamber, a cup protruding from theinside of the plug, an electrode thru the plug entering the bottom ofsaid cup, another electrode rotatable in theplug parallel with the firstelectrode and an arin on the inner end of the rotatable electrodemovable between two positions in one of which it enters an opening in.the cup and contacts the elect-rode therein, and in the other of whichit does not so contact, means tor rotating the second electrode, andmeans for insulating one of said electrodes from the base plug.

In mechanism of the class described, a plate for securement to anopening in an engine wallfa tubular cup open at its end protruding fromthe plate into the engine, a stationary contact point in the cupoppositsanother opening in a side wall of the cup, another electrode outside thecup, movable to carry contact thru' said second opening in the cup, andmeans moving the second electrode to cause the second contact to engageand disengage the first, and. means insulating the electrodes when thecontact points do not engage, for the purposes set forth.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two witnesses.

FRANK (l: Hornimg' tine. B. .ENGERSOLL.

